A special NIA court has granted bail to three individuals, including two Kerala-based Catholic nuns, who were arrested in Chhattisgarh on charges of human trafficking and forced religious conversion. The court directed the accused—Sisters Vandana Francis and Preeti, along with Sukhman Mandavi—to furnish bonds of ₹50,000 each and surrender their passports. They have also been barred from leaving the country.
The arrests, which took place at Durg Railway Station, followed a complaint by a Bajrang Dal member who alleged that the trio was attempting to forcibly convert and traffic three tribal girls from Narayanpur. However, the families of two of the three women later denied any such coercion, asserting that the girls were voluntarily travelling to take up jobs in a convent and improve their economic circumstances. One woman’s elder sister stated that she had previously worked with the nuns and had encouraged her sibling to join for a nursing job opportunity in Agra.
The incident sparked a wave of political backlash. Rahul Gandhi condemned the arrests, calling them an outcome of “mob rule” orchestrated by the BJP-RSS. He accused the government of persecuting minorities and demanded the immediate release of the nuns. Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan also voiced concern, writing to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and highlighting that the nuns' families had lost contact with them following their detention. He called for a fair and transparent investigation. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin similarly condemned the arrests, describing them as the result of false accusations and harassment.
Despite the initial opposition to the bail plea by the prosecution, which argued that the investigation was still in its early stages, the court ultimately accepted the defence’s submission. Outside the jail, members of the CPI(M), led by MP John Brittas, celebrated the court's decision.
In a surprising turn, Kerala BJP President Rajeev Chandrasekhar expressed support for the nuns, calling the situation a “misunderstanding” and hinting that the arrests stemmed from issues related to lapses in procedural registration under the Private Placement Agencies Regulation Act, rather than deliberate wrongdoing.
The case continues to highlight the tensions between law enforcement, religious freedoms, and minority rights, particularly in politically sensitive regions. As the investigation proceeds, the focus will likely remain on ensuring judicial fairness and protecting the rights of the individuals involved.
